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25. 06. 12. - 15:00

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25. 06. 12. - 15:00

Constitutional Court asked by president to settle his different with the PM

Michael Leidig

President Traian Basescu asked today (Mon) the Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) to settle the row with Prime Minister (PM) Victor Ponta over the participation at the 28-29 June European Council, the presidential administration informed.

Basescu deems that the Parliament’s resolution voted a week ago according to which the PM is endorsed to represent Romania at the Council in Brussels is not legally binding, and refuses to abide by it.

Earlier in the morning, PM Ponta told the press that it would be in the country’s interest that if the government reps go to Brussels with mandate both from the legislative and the presidency alike. Ponta said that he would like to talk over the issue with Basescu, today during the Defence Council, chaired by the president.

Basescu’s decision to ask for the CCR mediation is the last episode in the battle between the presidency and the government over Romania’s representation at the European Council. President’s move is already subject of controversies as two weeks ago, the CCR president, Augustin Zegrean, a former fellow party of the president, declared by his own initiative that only the president can represent the country at the European Council.

Following his statements, the Deputies within the legislative’s legal committees amended the Law regulating the CCR activity, by stripping the Court’s arbitration for the decisions and recommendations of the Parliament.

Romania cannot be represented by both the head of state and the government as the Lisbon Treaty does not allow a double participation for the member states. Sources close to the Council told euroactiv.com that if both show up at the Council meeting, they would be allowed to enter the building but only one chair will be available for Romania.

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